Block-molding machine.



No. 768,150. PATENTED AUG. 23, 1904. J, W. SANDERSON. BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED FEB, 18, 1904.

NO MODEL. 2 2 SHBETESHEET l.

a 4 J a 9 g Jf/umey PATENTED AUG. 23, 1904.

' J. W. SANDERSON.

BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

no MODEL.

Patented August 23, 1904.

PATENT. OFFICE.

JAMES W. SANDERSON OF BURLINGTON, IOWA.

BLOCK-MOLDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,150, dated August 23, 1904. Application filed February 18, 1904. Serial No. 194,190. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES W. SANDERsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burlington, in the county of Des Moines, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Block-Molding Machines,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a block-molding machine, and more particularly to a structure embodying an adjustable mold from which the core may be withdrawn.

The invention has for an object to improve the construction and manner of mounting the Walls of the mold whereby they may be adjusted for diiferent sizes and shapes of blocks tov be formed therein.

A further object of the invention is to improve the means for inserting and withdrawing the core from the mold, by which a minimum of power is required in operation and a smoothness of action obtained by which any disturbance of the molded material is prevented.

Another object of the invention is to mount the mold in such amanner that it may be tilted at an angle to-its normal position to permit the facing of the blocks with a different composition from that used at the back.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth, and the novel features thereof defined by'the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectionyFig. 3, a plan; Fig. 4, a detail end elevation; Fig. 5, a vertical cross-section, and Fig. 6 a detail end machine.

Like letters of reference indicate corre-v sponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The letter A designates the frame of the machine, which may be of any desired configuration and is provided with a top plate A, provided with slots A upon one side for the purpose of adjustably supporting the rear wall B of the mold, while similar slots A are provided at the opposite side of the table for" the purpose of adjustably supporting the front wallB. The opposite end walls C are similar in construction and are pivotally mounted at one end, as at C,,in one of a series of slots 1A provided at the opposite extended ends j of the table.

The table-top is also provided at each end with openings A which are adapt- 3 ed to receive hooks or other devices by which the molded block is removed therefrom. (See Fig. 3.) The central portion of the table is i also provided with core-openings A, and an auxiliary core-opening A is also provided on I the side for use in the formation of an angle or corner-block. The rear wall B may be formed of one or more sections and adj ustably secured in the slots A by any desired meansfor instance, bolts B extending therethrough-and when this wall is formed in sections one portion 1 thereof may be shifted. to the rear of the other, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus providing for the formation of a cornerblock by the insertion of any desired filler between the sections of the rear wall, as indicated at B The front wall B is preferably a single piece and is pivotally connected at .its lower portion to a slide B*, which is secured in position by a bolt B adjustably mounted in a slot A This slide is suitably countersunk in the table by a recess 13, so as to present a flush surface. It will thus be observed that the front and rear walls may be adjusted toward and from each other, while the end walls will also be capable of adjustmentin a similar manner and at a right angle tothe adjustment of the front and rear walls;

It will be understood that front and rear walls of different lengths will be used in the longitu- V dinal adjustment of the end walls. The frameelevation showingthe spring-support for the- A is also. provided with the vertical slot or guide A", adapted to cooperate with the bar D, which is extended through said slots at its tatable driving-shaft E at the opposite ends thereof to positively guide and hold the core.

These racks are also connected in any desired manner by a flexible device, such as a chain D, extending from the lower portion D of the rack and over a sprocket E carried upon the driving-shaft E. This shaft may also be provided with an operating-handle E upon one or both ends. For the purpose of holding the shaft against rotation and maintaining the cores at any desired elevation a pawl E is pivotally mounted upon the frame to engage the gear E. For the purpose of counterbalancing the weight of the cores, and thus rendering the operation of the machine very easy, a weight-rod D may be mounted in the free end of the chain, and, if found desirable,

any convenient number of additional weights D may be secured thereon. Within the corebox a suitable block-plate D may be loosely set and provided with apertures D through which the cores D are adapted to pass, said plate being capable of removal with the block.) The end walls C are each provided with a. spring-latch C adapted to engage a lug C carried by the front wall, said latch and lug having beveled abutting faces, so that the parts will be secured together when brought into contact with each other.

For the purpose of mounting the machine to permit the oscillation thereof in order to facilitate the facing of the blocks with adifferent composition from that of which the main portion of the block is constructed the lower portion of the frame is provided with a bearing-rod F, mounted in any suitable manner to permit the rocking of the frame for instance, by rests F, disposed at suitable points and secured to a foundationwhile the return movement of the machine to its initial position is checked and cushioned by means of oppositely-disposed springs F carried by the base-plate F secured to the foundation. A pin or projection F extends from the machine and rests upon these springs 'at their point of intersection, so that the weight of the mold and block carried thereby is received and supported in this manner to prevent violent jars or any disturbance of the molded material.

In the operation of the invention the walls of the mold-box are adjusted to the proper size and shape for the block to be formed and the cores raised to their highest position and there retained while the material to be molded is inserted into the box and tamped in the usual manner. When it is desired to face the block with a different composition of material from the back thereof, the machine is swung or tilted at an angle to its normal position and the facing composition placed therein. The back composition is then tamped in place and the machine returned to its normal upright position. It will be observed that the manner of mounting the walls of the mold-box permit of a varied adjustment thereof, while when the blocks are removed they can be swung entirely clear thereof by an outward movement of the end walls and a downward movement of the hinged front walls, the cores being at the same time withdrawn by means of the operating devices. The construction of these operating devices is such as to counterbalance the weight of the cores and eflfect an easy operation thereof, while the bar carrying the cores is directly engaged by the gear carried thereon, and thus the slipping of the parts effectually prevented during the tamping operation.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and conformation without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In ablock-molding machine, a mold-box, a reciprocating member provided with a were adapted to enter the box, an operating-shafi disposed adjacent to the box and provided with a gear, a flexible connection extending from the lower portion of said core to engage said gear, means for retaining said core in a raised position, and means carried by theoperating-shaft to engage and feed said member conjointly with the flexible connection at the upper portion of its travel.

2. In a block-molding machine, a mold-box, a reciprocating core adapted to enter the same, a bar carrying said core, an operating-shaft provided with a gear, a flexible connection extending from said bar to said gear, a counterbalance carried by the free end of said eonneetion, rack-teeth carried by said bar, and a pinion upon the operating-sh aft to engage said teeth when the core is in an elevated position.

3. In a block-molding machine, a mold-box, areeiprocating core adapted to enter the same, a bar carrying said core, an operating-sliaft provided with a gear, a flexible connection extending from said bar to said gear, a counterbalance carried by the free end of said connection, rack-teeth carried by said bar, a pinion upon the operating-sha'ft to engage said teeth when the core is in elevated position, pivotally-mounted end walls to said mold-box, and adjustable front and rear walls thereto.

4:. In a block-molding machine, a mold-box, a reciprocating core adapted to enter the same, a bar carrying said core, an operating-shaft provided with a gear, a flexible connection ex tending from said bar to said gear, a counterbalance carried by the free end of said connection, rack-teeth carried by said bar, a pinion upon said operating-shaft to engage said teeth when the core is in an elevated position, pivotally-mounted end walls to said mold-box,

adjustable front and rear walls thereto, a pivotal support at the base of the machine to permit the tilting thereof, and a pawl carried by slots at opposite sides of core-openings therein, a mold-box comprising front and rear walls adjustably mounted in said slots, end walls pivotally mounted at the opposite ends of the box, and a pivotal connection between the front wall and the adjusting means in said slot.

7. In a block-molding machine, a frame, a top plate provided with transversely-disposed slots at opposite sides of core-openings therein, a mold-box comprising front and rear walls adjustably mounted in said slots,'end walls pivotally mounted at the opposite ends of the box, extensions at the opposite ends of the table provided with parallel slots for adjustably supporting the pivots of the end walls.

8. In a block-molding machine, a frame, a top plate provided with transversely-disposed slots at opposite sides of core-openings therein, a mold-box comprising front and rear walls adjustably mounted in said slots, end walls pivotally mounted at the opposite ends of the box, extensions at the opposite ends of the table and provided with parallel slotsfor adjustably supporting the pivots of the end walls, a spring-catch carried by said end walls, and a beveled lug upon the front Wall to be engaged thereby.

9. In a block-moldingmachine, aframe having a pivotal support at its lower portion, a mold-box mounted upon the upper portion thereof and a cushioning-spring disposed'at one side of the frame-pivot to support said frame at one limit of its travel.

10. In a block-molding machine, a top plate provided with central core-openings and hookreceiving openings at the opposite ends thereof, front and rear walls adjustably mounted upon said. plate at the opposite sides of the core-openings, extensions at theopposite ends of the plate provided with parallel slots for adjustablysupporting the end walls of the mold-box, and a pivotal support for said end walls disposed in said slots.

11. In a block-molding machine, a top plate provided with central core-openings and hookreceiving openings at the opposite ends thereof, front and rear walls adjustably mounted upon said plate at the opposite sides of the core-openings, extensions at the opposite ends of the plate provided with parallel slots for adjustably supporting the end walls of the mold-box, a pivotal support for said end walls disposed in said slots, slotted standards in said frame, a core-bar having its opposite ends pro- .jectingthrough said standards,'and means for raising and lowering the core.

12. In a block-molding machine, a top plate provided with core-openings and transverselydisposed slots at opposite sides thereof, a moldbox comprising front and rear walls adj ustably mounted in said slots, one of which walls is composed of independently -movable sections, end walls pivotally mounted at the opposite ends of the, box, a reciprocating core,

means for'operating the same, and a supple' mental corner-core detachably secured to the main core.

13. In ablock-molding machine, a top plate provided with core-openings, a core-bar provided with a core thereon, means for raising and lowering said bar, independent means carried by the raising and lowering means to engage said bar at the upper portion of its travel, and means for counterbalancing the weight of the core-bar and parts carried thereby;

14. In a block-molding machine, a moldbox, a removable core disposed therein, a bearing-rod secured to the lower portion to form a tilting pivot for said machine, and bearingblocks for said rod secured to a fixed'support independent of the machine. a

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnessesf 1 JAMES WL SANDERSON. Witnesses:

SELVA ENBURG, CHAs. WILLNER. 

